ICSE 2016 Class IX and X Syllabus – Commercial Applications

ICSE 2016 Class IX and X Syllabus – Commercial Applications

Aims :

1. To develop in students a perceptive, sensitive and critical response to the role of business in a simple manner.
2. To develop in students an analytical ability so as to balance the demands of social and business parameters with individual aspirations.
3. To help create an appreciation for the diverse roles of both the entrepreneur and the professional manager.
4. To develop an ability to work in and through teams.
5. To provide appropriate knowledge and skills as a basis for further study or work or both.

Class IX

There will be one written paper of two hours duration carrying 100 marks and Internal Assessment of 100 marks.

The paper will be divided into two sections A and B.

• Section A (Compulsory) will consist of compulsory short answer questions covering the entire syllabus.
• Section B will consist of questions which will require detailed answers and there will be a choice of questions in this section.

Theory – 100 Marks

1. Introduction to Commercial Organisations

(a) Definition and basic understanding of terms like commerce, business, industry, trade, organization, firm and company. Meaning of
commercial organisations.

A basic understanding of the terms and their distinctions using relevant industry examples.

(b) Classification according to activities, objectives and ownership structures.

Different industrial groupings need to be explained like: Textile industry, FMCG (fast moving consumer goods), etc. Many examples need to be given to reinforce and clarify these concepts. While the objectives for profit and non-profit organizations are different, good management is still essential. A brief introduction to each ownership structure, their features and distinctions.

(c) Environmental awareness:

(i) Natural resources – air, water, soil, metals, minerals, forests and fuels. Importance of these resources in our daily life.

(ii) Causes of depletion of resources – over-use/irrational use, non-equitable distribution of resources, technological and industrial
development, population growth.

Almost all activities of human society have degraded the environment physically, chemically, biologically and ethically.

Technological inputs have yielded high yielding varieties, which reduces the products of agricultural residue such as fodder, etc.; indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides. Mining, industries, energy generation, automobiles, urbanisation leading to defacement of land, deforestation, deterioration of hydrological resources.

(iii) Practices for conservation of resources – search for alternatives, promotion of renewable resources. Advantages and disadvantages of renewable resources when compared to non renewable resources. Study of the functioning of biogas, solar, wind and
hydro power.

(iv) Industrial pollution and degradation of environment.

Measures to control pollution and degradation. Need for an Eco friendly form of industrial development.

(d) Sources of Pollution

Vehicular, industrial, burning garbage, brick kilns, industrial waste, off shore oil drilling, thermal pollution, chemical fertilizer, biomedical waste, pesticides, radiation – x-rays, radioactive fallout from nuclear plants.

2. An understanding of the actual functioning of a Commercial Organisation

• To understand the specific roles played by different departments of a commercial organization and to study the inter-relationships and dependence of all the functional areas in an actual firm: Purchase and Stores, Production, Marketing and Sales, Finance, Human Resources, General Administration and Legal.
• These topics should be studied as departments in a typical firm only, through case-studies or projects. All the departments and their functions need to be explained individually so that the cross-linkages can be brought out clearly.

3. Business Communication

(a) Increasing relevance of communication in a commercial organization.

With changing times and increasing size of organizations the ever increasing need and relevance of communication.

(b) Ways of Communicating: verbal (written, spoken) and non-verbal communication. Their importance in different settings and their
disadvantages.

The advantages and disadvantages of each method. Using industry examples and reallife settings, see the relevance of each method.

(c) Skills required for effective communication.

The interpersonal skills required for effective communication.

(d) Understanding the relevance and use of different tools of communication: letter, facsimile, e-mail, video conference, memo, telephonic conversation, etc.

A comparative analysis of the tools needs to be undertaken.

4. Mechanics and Terminology of Accounting Systems

(a) Need and relevance of accounting.

(b) Basic understanding of debit and credit.

(c) Understanding of basic accounting terminology: capital, liability, asset, revenue, expense, purchase, sales, stocks, debtors, creditors.

(d) Simple understanding of some accounting records maintained such as journals, ledgers, cashbook, trial balance.

Self-explanatory.

No questions will be set on recording of entries or on calculations – only an understanding of the above is required.

Internal Assessment – 100 Marks

A minimum of four assignments to be completed during the year, as assigned by the teacher.

Suggested list of assignments

1. Study the growth of the Consumer Durables Industry in India – take any 4 firms of the industry and group them according to ownership structures.
2. Study the working of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Industry in India – take any 4 firms of the industry and group them according to their Objectives (Profit/ Non-profit making).
3. Make a comparative study of different core industries in India – take any 5 industries (such as – cement, steel, paints, paper, infrastructure) and group them according to various factors such as – growth, profit potential, etc.
4. Study any existing functional strategy for a small/medium/large scale organization w.r.t. its Marketing, Finance, HR, Production, Purchase and find the problems in the existing strategies.
5. Enact a play showing growing communication needs in today’s organizations, depicting the possible problems that may occur due to poor communication.
6. Critically evaluate the ways (verbal and nonverbal) of business communication in a commercial organization. Write the factors which make one or the other method appropriate based on your understanding of commercial organizations.
7. Critically evaluate the tools (letters, e-mail, videoconference, memo, phone) of business communication in a commercial organization. Visit any commercial organization to understand the working and importance of each of these tools.
8. Write an essay/play about two organizations (one which uses communication effectively and one which does not) and show how this has an effect on their total working and profitability.
9. Study the accounting books maintained by a manufacturing concern and prepare a report highlighting the way in which they are maintained.
10. Study the balance sheet of a listed company. Define basic accounting terminologies, such as, capital, liabilities, assets, (fixed and current), revenue, expenditure, etc.

Class X

There will be one written paper of two hours duration carrying 100 marks and Internal Assessment of 100 marks.

The paper will be divided into two sections A and B.

• Section A (Compulsory) will consist of compulsory short answer questions covering the entire syllabus.
• Section B will consist of questions which will require detailed answers. There will be a choice of questions in this section.

Theory – 100 Marks

1. Understanding the basics of Markets and Marketing

(a) Definition of markets and marketing – with examples from consumer goods, consumer services – A clear understanding of markets (wherever a buy and sell takes place is a market); examples of non-traditional markets such as catalogues, direct sales, tele-markets, etc. Definition and stages of marketing.

(b) Difference between a product and a service (with examples) – With service becoming important, the distinctions between products and services must be clearly understood.

(c) Understanding 4 ‘P’s– Product, Price, Place and Promotion – Product life-cycle, pricing strategies such as skimming, penetration, parity, cost plus, place – distribution channels, promotional strategies, concept of advertising, direct selling, publicity.

(d) Advertising and brand promotion – Definition, concept and types of advertising. Definition of brand, how to bring about brand promotion.

(e) Sales and the selling process, including the difference between marketing and sales; qualities of a good salesman. (Self explanatory.)

2. Understanding Finance

(a) Elementary understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). GAAP to be explained – Entity concept, duality concept, matching concept, moneymeasurement concept, going concern concept.

(b) Principles of Financial accounting and reporting – a simple understanding of receipt and payment account, income and expenditure
account, balance sheet.

Concept of balance sheet.

(c) Banking – functions of the Central Bank and commercial banks, types of accounts and banking transactions.

Function of Commercial Banks and Central Bank.

(d) Fundamental concept of Cost (direct, variable etc.).

Classification of cost according to nature (direct and indirect), behaviour (variable, fixed and semi-fixed).

3. Understanding Human Resources

(a) Importance of Human Resource in a commercial organization – Role of human resource in any organization. Functions of human resources.

(b) Commonly used methods of recruitment, selection and training – Definition, types and methods of recruitment, selection and training.

4. Development of Public Relations

(a) Meaning, nature, scope of Public Relations.

Self explanatory.

(b) Elements of public relations – human relations, empathy, persuasion and dialogue. The definition, nature and importance of empathy, persuasion and dialogue.

(c) History of public relations and present status. Self-explanatory.

(d) Ethics in public relations – Growing role of ethics in business and public relations.

(e) Issues of the Environment –

• Destruction of ecosystem due to industrialization, dwelling of business units, transport, tourism and mining.
• Excessive consumption of minerals, raw materials and other non-renewable resources.
• Energy crisis: Urban and rural sectors. Renewable and non-renewable energy, greenhouse effect and global warming, acid rain, and
• Environmental values and ethics.
  • Fundamental duties and value education. Use of cloth bags, organic manure, clean surroundings, respect for other people’s things, developing an ethical environmental consciousness e.g. refusing use of polybags, styrofoam containers, etc; reusing: plastic and glass containers; recycling: e.g. paper – this will reduce demand on wood and save trees. Self explanatory.onme
• Consumer education – consumer rights, making correct choices while buying different items; food adulteration – Understanding the importance of educating consumers of their rights – awareness of food adulteration and its harmful effects.
• Effects of pollution on environment, human, health – Bhopal Gas Tragedy; Chernobyl Disaster.

(f) Community participation and public awareness programmes for ecological restoration and conservation like the Chipco Andolan (Movement).

Internal Assessment – 100 Marks

A minimum of four assignments to be completed during the year, as assigned by the teacher.

Suggested list of assignments

1. Design a marketing plan for the launch of a new soap in the price range of Rs.15-20.
2. Make a report on the new forms of markets and marketing such as tele-markets (marketing through phones), home-shopping (catalogues like Burlingtons, etc.), Direct Marketing (example Eureka-forbes). What according to you is their relevance in future and why?
3. Study the marketing strategies of a service sector company such as a courier service and a production company such as a pen manufacturer. Explain the differences and similarities in both the strategies. What do you think is the reason for these differences?
4. Study the product life cycle (PLC). Using Add-gel pens, explain in which part of the PLC are they giving valid justification.
5. Study five different advertisements in any one media (print, television, audio) of the FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) such as Coke, Pepsi, Lux, Surf, Tide, etc. and explain their positive and negative points.
6. Study the annual report (balance sheet and profit and loss account) of any company and comment on its financial health.
7. Study the working of the commercial banks in India by studying the working of the branch office of any Public sector commercial bank such as Canara bank, SBI, Bank of Baroda, etc.
8. Write an essay on the role of the Central Bank (Reserve Bank of India) in any economy with special reference to the Indian scenario.
9. Study the human resource policies of an Information Technology firm (developing software or hardware or in IT training).
10. Study the working of the Public relations department of a mid-sized firm operating in the media sector.

Evaluation

• The project work is to be evaluated by the subject teacher and by an External Examiner. The External Examiner shall be nominated by the Head of the school and may be a teacher from the faculty, but not teaching the subject in the relevant section/class. For example, a teacher of Commerce of Class XI may be deputed to be the External Examiner for Class X Commercial Applications project work.
• The Internal Examiner and the External Examiner will assess the candidate’s work independently.

Award of marks (100 marks)

• Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner) : 50 marks
• External Examiner : 50 marks

The total marks obtained out of 100 are to be sent to the Council by the Head of the School.

The Head of the School will be responsible for the entry of marks on the mark sheets provided by the Council.

ICSE Class IX and X Syllabus Home Page